Dance in Scotland an overview to inform and inspire

We have always danced in Scotland – it is just part of who we are, an intrinsic part of our cultural identity. 1 Anita Clark, Portfolio Manager for Festivals, Dance and Touring, Creative Scotland We want to get more Scots involved in dance. It’s fun, creative, a great way to keep healthy and can be enjoyed by everyone – even if you’ve never done it before... Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, at the launch of Get Scotland Dancing in October 2010, putting dance at the heart of the Scottish Government’s 2014 Commonwealth Games Legacy Programme. 2 Dance in Scotland

This report aims to raise the Some people make dance their job – profile of Dance in Scotland training rigorously to become elite and to recommend changes performers of Ballet, Breakdance, Highland, Tap or Contemporary. They are and developments which will able to grace the stages of Scotland and strengthen and reinforce its place the world. Some people teach dance to in our society. It is informed by others – in schools, at colleges or in the the experience and expertise community. Some people make dance their of Scotland’s dance sector. business – providing the infrastructure that makes dance in Scotland happen. It covers dance in the community, professional dance, dance in schools But not everyone in Scotland is aware and training for dance. It shows how every of what dance can offer them. And not aspect of dance in Scotland is connected everyone lives close enough to dance and mutually dependent. activity. Some just think dance isn’t for them. We all know that dancing is good for you – but did you know that more people in There are many different types of dance. Scotland are dancing than playing football Over 40 styles of dance are offered each or that dance is the second most popular week in classes at Dance Base in cultural activity after reading for pleasure? Edinburgh. Each and every form of dance stimulates the imagination, develops And did you know that more children take physical awareness and agility, brings part in dance outwith school hours than in people together and boosts self-esteem. any other physical activity? Dance is sometimes challenging, People dance for many reasons. For fun, to but it is always rewarding. learn new skills, to keep fit and to socialise. We want to change attitudes about dance. They are wise to do so – dance helps your We want to make sure that all dance heart to work more effectively and makes experiences in Scotland are the very best your muscles and bones stronger. It can they can be – in the classroom, in theatres, also alleviate the symptoms of depression at college and in village halls. We want the and anxiety. benefits of dance to speak for themselves. This is why it is promoted by major UK Dance can change people’s lives charities such as MIND, Diabetes UK and – we need you to help spread the British Heart Foundation. the word.

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Dance in Scotland

This report highlights several challenges 3 All children should have access to high which will need to be addressed if dance in quality dance teaching in schools, Scotland is to thrive. We recommend the particularly now that dance is part following as priorities: of the Curriculum for Excellence. 1 Everyone in Scotland should have access We recommend that: to a local dance activity. > those training to teach Physical Education We recommend that: and to become primary school teachers > every local authority region in Scotland have the opportunity to work closely should have a fully supported Dance with the professional dance sector to Development Artist, or equivalent strengthen their understanding of, interest community dance initiative, helping in and ability to deliver, the Dance curriculum. to provide a country-wide programme > Partnerships are strengthened between of co-ordinated, high quality dance local authorities, schools and the Scottish experiences for people of all ages dance community to enable more young and abilities. people in schools – and their teachers – to work with professional dance artists, 2 Investment in professional dance needs and to recognise dance as a valuable tool to be sustained so we can build new for learning. audiences for the future. > a post graduate degree in education in We recommend that: Dance is developed and delivered in at least > partnerships develop between dance one of Scotland’s universities – qualifying venues and producers to encourage teachers to teach Dance in secondary more audiences across Scotland to schools. experience the excitement, power and emotion of a live dance performance, 4 More opportunities for specialist training and to help overcome perceptions that and professional development are needed dance is difficult, inaccessible and so that all our talented young dancers, “not for me”. including those with disabilities, can be > investment continues to be made in nurtured and retained in Scotland. our professional dance artists, providing We recommend that: them with opportunities, networks and the > the current provision of dance training and infrastructure to create the highest quality talent development pathways in Scotland is productions for audiences. reviewed so we can be sure that we are offering and promoting the best and most accessible training opportunities to all our young dancers. > we strengthen the opportunities for graduates leaving Scotland’s dance colleges to help them integrate into the professional dance community and to support their continued training and development.

5 dance as a sporting activity is more popular than football Scottish Household Survey 2009 Dance in Scotland 1 Participation and Access – Dance in the Community

Everyone in Scotland should have access to a local dance activity. “Last year, a qualified dance teacher introduced dance classes to the Isle of Lewis. I thought I would give it a go, to get me out the house, lose a bit of weight, and generally for enjoyment. I haven’t looked back since, I love it!” 3 Dancing makes people happy. It can be undertaken by anyone of any age or ability. Even the simplest of dance moves can help to improve fitness levels, balance, muscle tone and co-ordination, as well as lifting the spirits and providing valuable social interaction.

People in Scotland are dancing: Dance is the second most popular cultural activity amongst Scottish adults after reading. Nineteen per cent of the Scottish adult population, or nearly one million people, took part in a dance activity in the past 12 months. 4

Dance as a sporting activity is more popular than football. 5

Our research shows that at least 100,000 people each year are taking part in dance classes offered by Scotland’s dance centres in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. 6

A further 52,000 people are involved in dance activity that is offered across the country by Scotland’s dance companies and artists. 7

One-off projects, such as the Body Currents project offered in the Highlands by Eden Court Theatre and Plan B dance company, involved nearly 25,000 young people in dance activities during 2009/10.

Each weekend, 40 children aged 5 – 12 attend a ‘dance party’ at Macrobert, Scotland’s venue for children and young people in Stirling.

The Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust engage nearly 15,000 people of all ages and abilities in a traditional dance workshop, ceilidh or performance each year.

The Council for Dance Education and Training has over 1,600 Scottish-based teachers within its membership, many of whom will teach a variety of different dance styles in private dance schools. Between them, these teachers are estimated to be reaching at least 800,000 people each year. 8

Dance classes run by SkyeDance are regularly over-subscribed with many people travelling for over an hour to attend each week.

And we have also seen over 300 couples dancing in George Square in Glasgow, winning the record for the world’s biggest tea dance. 9

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Dance in Scotland 1 Participation and Access – Dance in the Community

There are good reasons to get more people dancing: More than 2,000 people in Scotland die each year from inactivity. 10 Scotland faces a larger increase in the number of people aged 65 and over than the rest of the UK . But only 23% of men and 16% of women aged 65–75 are achieving the recommended 30 minutes of exercise each day. 11 In addition, 7% of men and 6% of women in Scotland are living with coronary heart disease (CHD) 12 . CHD is a preventable disease and physical inactivity is a major contributing risk factor.

Scottish people need to achieve a healthier lifestyle and dance can be part of the solution. The benefits for those who participate in dance speak for themselves: “In Inverness, a 10-year-old girl felt unhappy with herself – poor self-esteem, low self-confidence due to be being very slightly overweight but also not ‘cool’, and was therefore excluded by her peers at school. She came to classes, improved her own body image, gained confidence through performing at showcases, made new friends outside school. She is now 17 and is still coming to classes regularly.” Louise Marshall, Dance Artist, Eden Court Theatre, Inverness A recent study at the University of Strathclyde, in association with the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, found that Scottish Country dancing had ‘extensive and measurable fitness benefits for older people’ . It found that dancers aged 6 0–85 who perform Strathspeys, jigs and reels, are more agile, have stronger legs and can walk more briskly than people of the same age who take part in other forms of exercise. 13 “Courses such as dance... were “arguably more important” in times of financial constraint because they made people happy.” John Hayes, the UK Skills Minister cited the example of an unemployed 56-year-old man who took dance classes in his spare time for a year and, as a result, gained the confidence to apply for jobs.” The Guardian 16 June 2010 “One older person... commented on how restricted she felt with her old age, but after attending dance classes she had more mobility and was able for the first time in years to button up her own dress, which increased her confidence and independence.” Emma Jones, Dance Development Officer, West Lothian Council, Arts Services “I have been dancing for about 4 years. Without the dancing I think I would go back to my old ways getting into trouble. So to me dancing means everything.” Participant in Dance Base’s More Choices More Chances programme which worked with school non-attenders and young people not in education, employment or training aged 15 – 18 with a history of challenging behaviour.

“The way the group worked for her was a real revelation and has helped her with her general expectations and attitudes in life...hard enough for any teenager but particularly hard in terms of identity and peer group involvement as a disabled teenager. The events were fantastic for her skills, her confidence, her inclusion, and her relationship-forming and life experience.” Parent of a Scottish Dance Theatre ‘Make Music Move’ project participant.

9 Dance has provided us with a fabulous vehicle for reaching into the heart of local communities Diabetes UK Dance in Scotland 1 Participation and Access – Dance in the Community

But not everyone has access to dance provision and not everyone is aware of or able to benefit from the transformative power of dance. In the North East of Scotland, 51% of the population take part in dance compared with 79% in Edinburgh and the South of Scotland. 14 Even where there is demand, there is often a lack of confident and fully trained individuals able to teach dance in their community. Nineteen of Scotland’s 32 local authorities have Dance Development Officers or equivalent posts delivering local dance activity. Thirteen have no such provision.

We believe that every local authority region in Scotland should have a fully supported Dance Development post, or equivalent community dance initiative, helping to provide a country-wide programme of co-ordinated, high quality dance experiences for people of all ages and abilities. It really can make a difference. In West Lothian, where a Dance Development post has existed since 2002, there has been an 84 per cent increase in participation in dance projects, from 11,420 in 2005 to more than 21,000 in 201 0. The programme has won awards for its partnership working and innovation.

It is estimated that Scotland could save £3.5m in the cost of hospital admissions for coronary heart disease, colon cancer and stroke over a five year period if people were more activ e15 . For significantly less than this amount over the same period, we could support a Dance Artist in each of the 13 local authority areas in which there is currently no provision. This would enable us to get a further 260,000 people dancing each year across Scotland. 16 “Dance has provided us with a fabulous vehicle for reaching into the heart of local communities. Our research shows that the road-shows where dance was an integral part were significantly more effective than others. And of course they send a message that staying fit doesn’t have to be a chore. We’ll be doing much more with dance next year as a result.” Andy James, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Diabetes UK, 2011 17

In October 2010, the Scottish Government launched its Get Scotland Dancing campaign, as part of its Legacy Programme for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. We are delighted that the Scottish Government has recognised the role that dance can play in achieving its aim of getting ‘Scotland physically active with people living long, healthy lives. ’ 18

We want to work with the Scottish Government and in partnership with local health boards, education authorities, sports bodies and community policing agencies to help make this possible.

11 It’s not so very long ago that Scottish dancers and choreographers reckoned that, if they wanted to pursue a professional career, their first step had to take them south of the border. No-one here, with any sense, wanted to stop those with talent broadening their horizons and gaining stimulating experience elsewhere – but it was genuinely dispiriting when so many left and comparatively few felt it worth their while returning. That old, departing tide has turned with a remarkable and invigorating swell of talent keen to put down roots in Scotland. Now, of course, we’re happy to see our artists heading off ... but this time touring and taking part in cultural exchanges, putting Scotland on the worldwide dance map. Mary Brennan 19 Dance in Scotland 2 Valuing Excellence: Professional Dance in Scotland

Investment in professional dance needs to be sustained so we can build audiences for the future. Scotland’s professional dance companies are creating inspiring, diverse, entertaining and adventurous work for audiences across Scotland, the UK and beyond. There has been a tangible growth in the ambition and achievements of these companies over the past ten years, evident through the remarkable success of Scottish Ballet and Scottish Dance Theatre as well as the expanse of independent companies and dance artists creating and touring work in Scotland. This growth has been aided by significant changes in the dance landscape since the start of the new millennium. Dance now occupies its own place within the arts funding structure with funding for dance companies from Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government rising to £7.3m in 2010/11, an increase of 100% on 2002/3 levels 20. Opportunities to create and present work have expanded out of all recognition, with magnificent new buildings dedicated to dance built in Edinburgh and Dundee, and a new home built in Glasgow for Scottish Ballet.

Our dance organisations are recognised at home and abroad for their excellence and endeavour:

> “NQR brings together disabled and able-bodied dancers so seamlessly it looks like the most natural combination in the world.” The Scotsman , commenting on NQR by Caroline Bowditch, Marc Brew and Janet Smith for Scottish Dance Theatre.

> Scottish Ballet won 12 awards for its work between 2004 and 2010, including the coveted Critics’ Circle Award for Outstanding Repertoire in 2008. The Ballet’s audience increased by 24% from 2007 to 2010.

> Nearly 60% of the audience attending Plan B’s recent revival of A Wee Home from Home thought it was ‘fantastic’. The show achieved 45 mentions in local and national print media and was presented in news items on STV and on five local radio stations.

> “Claire Cunningham performs with Scottish directness and without a trace of sentiment her personal ‘Evolution' and glides on crutches to ‘Singing in the Rain' through probably one of the most beautiful variations of that number since Gene Kelly's original.” Markische Allgemeine .

> Dance Ihayami, Scotland’s first and only Indian dance company has never had anything less than a four star review for its work. Since October 2010, the company’s education and learning programme has been accredited by the Government of India.

> Scottish Dance Theatre’s Janet Smith was awarded the Jane Attenborough Dance UK Industry Award in 2009 for her outstanding contribution to the art form.

> Dance Base, the only venue dedicated to presenting a curated programme of dance on the Fringe in Edinburgh, received the Spirit of the Fringe Award in 2009.

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Dance in Scotland 2 Valuing Excellence: Professional Dance in Scotland

Scotland’s dance companies and artists are busy promoting Scotland’s cultural excellence overseas: Seven of our smaller independent companies have recently been seen by audiences in Germany, Belgium, Poland, Italy, France, The Netherlands, Greece, Cyprus, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, India and China. Eight of Scotland’s independent dance artists have been involved in creative exchanges with Chinese dance artists. In 2009/10, Scottish Ballet played to 11,300 people on tour in China, Paris, Barcelona and Estonia and Scottish Dance Theatre played to 5,400 people in Dubai and China.

There is also a significant audience for dance in Scotland: A total of 250,000 people, or 5% of the Scottish population, were engaged in dance through a performance or education activity by one of Scotland’s publicly-funded dance companies in 2008/0 921 . Many dance companies from outwith Scotland also tour our stages. Dance was programmed in nearly 40 venues across Scotland in 2008/09, from Shetland to Dumfries and from Stornaway to Peebles. Each year, 200,000 people attend dance performances at our main performance venues 22 .

We want to build on this success and for more audiences to be made aware of the power of dance. However, this isn’t always easy. Some venues are concerned that dance is not sufficiently popular to guarantee the audience attendance necessary to cover performance fees. Even the more established companies can struggle to find performance opportunities. This presents a dilemma for all professional dance companies and artists wishing to share their work with an audience in Scotland, and to earn a living. It highlights the need to overcome perceptions by some audience members that dance is difficult, inaccessible and ‘not for me’. Much of this work needs to be done at an early stage with children and young people in schools in order to offset any negative images of dance and dancing before thinking becomes set and lifestyle choices are made.

We want to find ways to challenge these attitudes and to develop partnerships between dance venues and producers which will encourage more audiences, of all ages, across Scotland to experience the excitement, power and emotion of a live dance performance. Audiences will only see great work on stage if investment continues to be made in our dance artists, providing them with opportunities, networks and the infrastructure to create the highest quality productions. We can offer a good financial return on investment. In 2008/09, Scotland’s funded dance companies generated more than £3m in earned income, contributed more than £5m to other parts of the Scottish economy and helped to generate 500 jobs in other sectors 23 . This more than matched the investment the dance companies received in public funding.

15 I used to think dance was just okay but now I LOVE it! A pupil at Balornock Primary School following a project with Dance House in Glasgow Dance in Scotland 3 Giving children and young people choices: Dance in School

All children should have access to high quality dance teaching in schools. Children need to express themselves physically, emotionally and creatively in order to grow and develop into healthy and happy young people and adults. Dance is a unique art form, presenting the opportunity to use focussed, non-competitive physical activity to create and express an emotional response to the world. Dance has the potential to enhance children’s enjoyment of participation, their ability to co-operate with others and to have confidence in themselves. It can help our young people to become more active, which is vital if we are to reduce current child obesity levels and to achieve the Scottish Government’s target of getting 80% of children to take at least one hour of moderate exercise five days a week by 2022. 24 It can reach across, and underpin delivery of, the curriculum. Developing a creative movement language to interpret other subject areas can help children explore and examine new facts, concepts and ideas. “This has definitely been one of the best experiences that our children have ever had and I would hope that this could be continued – perhaps a little longer next time... It covered our targets for Collaborative Learning, recommendations for two hours physical activity per week and Use of Gaelic Language.” A teacher in Portree, Skye, following a visit by Dannsa “Pupil confidence and willingness to learn about science was very apparent throughout this topic. The movement and dance focus contributed to a new way of learning things within class. Pupils felt they remembered things more easily through visual interpretation within the classroom.” Response to YDance’s science project at Blantyre High School in South Lanarkshire which encouraged S1 pupils to use dance to illustrate the human life cycl e

But it isn’t easy to study dance at school: 50% of children do not take part in dance at all between P6 and S2 in a normal school week. 25 There is currently no standard grade examination available in Scottish state schools and only nine secondary schools offered a Higher Dance examination in 2009. 26 However, evidence of demand is there: 84% of girls and 38% of boys would like to take part in dance 27 , and the number of Higher Dance Practice qualifications awarded has grown by 178% in the past four years – from 78 in 2005 to 217 in 200 928 . Most children seek their dance experiences outwith school 29 . Those who can afford to pay can study dance at a private dance school, and many do. There are at least 270 private dance schools in Scotland, providing a vital and enthusiastic training ground for many of our young dancers 30 . There were over 4,000 entries for a Royal Academy of Dance Graded or Vocational exam (equivalent of a Standard or Higher grade qualification) in 2010. 31 These were only available at private dance schools. Similarly, very many children and young people study privately for Highland dance examinations and competitions.

17 Could it be that including dance in the formal curriculum from S3 onwards was my greatest achievement as a head teacher? Director of Education and Cultural Services, West Lothian Council Dance in Scotland 3 Giving children and young people choices: Dance in School

But not everyone has access to this facility. Nor should access to dance be dependent on financial capacity. In Scotland’s new Curriculum for Excellence 32 , Dance is acknowledged as an Expressive Arts subject in its own right. This is the first time that Dance has been recognised as a discrete subject area, having previously been a very small part of the Physical Education curriculum. However, there is no specialist dance teaching training available which will equip teachers to deliver the Dance Outcomes of the Curriculum for Excellence in schools. Dance is currently taught in secondary schools by Physical Education teachers and in primary schools by classroom teachers – who will have had no more than a few hours of dance tuition as part of their entire teaching training. We want to ensure that all children have access to dance at schools and to know that they are being taught by teachers who are confident to deliver the Curriculum. We believe that those training to teach Physical Education and to become primary school teachers should have the opportunity to work closely with the professional dance sector to strengthen their understanding of, interest in and ability to deliver, the Dance curriculum. We are also asking for a post graduate degree in education in Dance to be developed and delivered in at least one of Scotland’s universities – qualifying teachers to teach Dance in secondary schools. We know that when children and young people dance in school, they feel ‘more confident, happier about themselves, fitter and healthier and...better about school’ 33 . We also know that participation in cultural activities by young people can ‘reduce truancy and bad behaviour, reduce the propensity to offend and lead to better educational and employment prospects’. 34 We are delighted that the Scottish Qualifications Authority is developing a new dance qualification to sit below the Higher grade, and is reviewing the content of the Higher itself. We would like greater involvement in this development process to help ensure that we are creating a firm foundation on which to build dance capacity within schools. We want Scotland’s children to have the best start in life and be able to fulfil their potential. We believe that dance can play a vital role in helping to achieve these ambitions. “One S3 pupil when she first attended the curriculum dance programme said that she wanted to be a lap dancer. But after completing the Intermediate level 2 and Higher dance course with an A grade, she is now progressing onto a dance degree at Newcastle University.” Emma Jones, Dance Development Officer, West Lothian Council, Arts Services But schools can’t deliver dance on their own. Partnerships with professional dance companies and artists are ke y. We are committed to ensuring that dance artists are equipped with the skills required to work in education settings and will be working with Creative Scotland on its plan to develop a national strategic approach to such training 35 . However, resources and schedules are unpredictable and not all schools are able to benefit from working with professional dance artists or choreographers. We are asking for greater partnerships between local authorities, schools and the Scottish dance community to enable more young people in schools – and their teachers – to work with professional dance artists, and to recognise dance as a valuable tool for learning. “Could it be that including dance in the formal curriculum from S3 onwards was my greatest achievement as a head teacher? Well, it just might be; and it certainly gave me great pride to promote the arts in my school – not at the expense of the traditional academic curriculum, but as an enhancement to it.” Gordon J Ford, Director of Education and Cultural Services, West Lothian Council 36 19 The best three years of my life. I couldn’t wait to get up in the morning and back into class A graduate from Dance For All in Edinburgh Dance in Scotland 4 Valuing the Artist: Developing Talent through Specialist Training

More opportunities for specialist training and continuous professional development are needed so that all our talented young dancers, including those with disabilities, can be nurtured and retained in Scotland. If Scotland is to produce world-class dancers it needs to provide world-class training opportunities to talented young people. It needs to create clear and accessible pathways towards this training and to enable graduating students to learn their craft alongside experienced professionals as they embark on their careers. There have been great advances in the provision of dance training in Scotland in recent years. In 2009 Scottish Ballet launched a BA in Modern Ballet at Glasgow’s Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, attracting students from around the world. This now provides a clear pathway in Scotland for up to 20 students each year to study Ballet to professional level. It is possible to study for a BA in Dance in two colleges in Scotland. The Scottish School of Contemporary Dance at Dundee College trains students exclusively in contemporary dance and Edinburgh’s Telford College offers a course which includes contemporary, ballet and jazz. 35 students achieved a BA in Dance in Scotland in 2009. A handful of colleges offer HNC and HND courses in contemporary and professional stage dance and several further education colleges offer an NQ in various dance styles. This unit is becoming increasingly popular, with entries increasing by 368%, from 663 in 2001 to 3102 in 2008. 37 There are also clear routes for training in Highland Dancing, with the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing supporting the collaboration of the many teachers and associations which teach and promote Highland Dancing in Scotland and across the world. The SOBHD represents over 10,000 people and organisations worldwide.

However, there are insufficient schemes which nurture and encourage talented individuals towards this professional training. Those opportunities which do exist are in demand and regularly over-subscribed:

> Scottish Ballet had nearly 500 applications for the 120 places on their Associates Programme, which provides specialist ballet training to children aged 10 – 16. > Y Dance regularly receive more applications for places on their Project Y performance course than they can accommodate. “It’s amazing, the best experience of my life.” > The Dance School of Scotland turns away children each year wishing to study at their fully-funded Centre of Excellence in the performing arts. > The Dance Leaders programme is spreading across the country, providing training for young people aged 13+ who wish to use dance to help develop their leadership skills. This programme “provides a valuable supplement to academic education, and a worthwhile stepping stone to employment and vocational training. ”38 > The level of attendance at a recent ballet workshop for boys run by the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) in Edinburgh, was higher than for any boys-only course ever run by the RAD in the UK. Fifty-three boys attended. “One...who had never done ballet was so fantastic that on the back of this weekend, he auditioned for the Dance School of Scotland pure ballet course and got a place.”

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Dance in Scotland 4 Valuing the Artist: Developing Talent through Specialist Training

Where investment has been made to support young people to develop their talent in the performing arts, the results are impressive, as the following examples show: > The Scottish Government supports 90% of the running costs of the Dance School of Scotland – one of nine Centres of Excellence in the performing arts in Scotland—enabling it to offer specialist dance training at no charge to young people alongside mainstream secondary education. Young people from the Dance School of Scotland go on to study dance at degree level at the world’s leading dance colleges. 39 > In England, the Centres for Advanced Training (CATs) have been in place since 2004. Fully funded places are available so that ability to pay is not a barrier to attendance. Sixty per cent of students received a full grant in 2008/09. Dance graduates from these schemes go directly into professional dance and ballet companies, with some going on to further study at specialist dance conservatoires. “The national grants scheme is now making a real impact on improving access to provision for the most talented children, creating routes for progression that respond to the different needs of today’s talented young people and laying the foundations for the future excellence and vitality of the art forms of music and dance. ”40 > A national audit of music provision in Scotland’s schools has resulted in the Youth Music Initiative which aims to provide every P6 primary school child in Scotland with an experience of music. Nearly 900,000 children have benefited from this scheme to date, which has received £40m of public funding 41 . > Acknowledgement of a similar gap in youth dance provision in England has resulted in the creation of Youth Dance England which has £5.5m to disperse on dance activity for young people over three years. To date, this investment has resulted in the participation of 118,000 young people in regional dance activity, has involved 2,200 schools, has created 1,185 youth dance groups and the presentation of 140 youth dance performance platforms. 42 We want to be part of a discussion about how similar training pathways can be developed in Scotland. We want to be sure that we are offering and promoting the best and most accessible opportunities to all our young dancers, including those with disabilities. We believe that the current provision of dance training and talent development in Scotland should be reviewed.

We are heartened that the Scottish Government has acknowledged the need to take an overview of the arts for young people and we look forward to working with them to ensure that ‘access to pathways to excellence’ are maximised in dance as part of their new youth arts strategy. 43 We also need to ensure that opportunities are extended to graduates leaving Scotland’s dance colleges, to help them integrate into the professional dance community and to support their continued training and development within Scotland. With more professionally trained dancers living and working in Scotland we will be helping to ensure that schools have access to high quality dance experiences, that students are taught by inspiring teachers and that audiences see the best work performed on Scotland’s stages. Investment in the quality and scope of our training provision is an investment in the creative life of our nation. “I ... recognise the issues I will face if I am to live and work as a professional artist in Scotland. For example...work may be less available or fewer opportunities may be happening. On the other hand I am looking forward to the challenge and feel it is my responsibility as a young artist to keep the creation of dance works and performances popular, in order to increase audiences in the future! ”Student testimonial, Scottish School of Contemporary Dance, Dundee 23

Dance in Scotland 5 Conclusion

Dance can play a crucial role in the lives of Scottish people. It offers creative stimulus, physical exercise and enhanced mental well-being. It is an investment in our social and economic capital, helping to build self-esteem and to boost educational and employment prospects. It is also great fun!

We have outlined the benefits and achievements of dance in the community, in the professional dance sector, in schools and in dance training. We have also highlighted the key issues which need to be addressed if dance in Scotland is to thrive.

Every aspect of dance in Scotland is connected and mutually dependent:

We need to get more people dancing if we are to be a happy and healthy nation. To get more people dancing, we need to train dancers to teach in schools, in the community and at our training colleges; and if our audiences are to grow we need to have a critical mass of dancers living and working in Scotland, who are supported to produce the highest quality of work... which in turns inspires young people at school to want to learn about and get dancing.

This report aims to raise the profile of Dance in Scotland and to recommend changes which will strengthen and reinforce its place in our society.

We will need the investment of ideas, resources, partnerships and opportunities for our journey to be effective.

Please commit to the future of dance in Scotland with us.

Federation of Scottish Theatre – advancing theatre and dance in Scotland August 2011

25 Dance in Scotland Appendices

The following organisations have contributed to this report:

All or Nothing Dance Company macrobert

Assessment and Qualifications Alliance, England NHS Lothian

Barrowland Ballet Norman Douglas & Company

British Association of Teachers of Dance Plan B Dance Company

Claire Cunningham Queen Margaret University

Company Chordelia, Reid Kerr College

Council for Dance Education and Training’ Royal Academy of Dance

Creative Scotland Royal Scottish Country Dancing Society

Dance Base, National Centre for Dance Scottish Ballet

Dance For All Scottish Dance Theatre

Dance House Scottish Government

Dance Ihayami Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing

Dance UK Scottish Qualifications Authority

Dannsa Scottish School of Contemporary Dance

David Hughes Dance Company Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust

Diabetes UK SkyeDance

Dundee City Council Tabula Rasa Dance Company

Eden Court Theatre The Audience Business

Edinburgh Festival Theatre University of Strathclyde

Edinburgh International Festival West Lothian, Arts Services

Edinburgh's Telford College Y Dance

Feis Rois Ltd Youth Dance England

Independance

Jazz Art Uk

26 Dance in Scotland Appendices

References: 1 Dance in Scotland, Companies and Choreographers , Scottish Arts Council, 2008, Introduction, www.scottisharts.org.uk

2 http://ouractivenation.co.uk/dance/

3 Comment from the Western Isles on the Dance UK Love Dance Survey 2010, www.dancevote2010.com, provided by Dance UK

4 Scottish Household Survey 2009, 13.1, www.scotland.gov.uk/publications/2010/08/25092046

5 Scottish Household Survey 2009, 13.9, as above

6 Scottish Arts Council Foundation Companies Annual Review 2008/09, www.scottisharts.org.uk (Dance Base and City Moves), Dance House own data supplied October 2010

7 Figures collated from Scottish Arts Council data for Foundation, Flexible and Project funded performing companies in 2008/09 and from Scottish Government data for Scottish Ballet taken from National Performing Companies: Report on activity 2007/08 and 2008/09 , www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/04/21140911/0

8 Assuming each teacher teaches 25 participants per week for 20 weeks of the year

9 Evening Times , 13 September 2010, pp. 4 –5

10 Let’s Get Scotland More Active, A Strategy for Physical Activity , Scottish Executive, 2003, p 17: www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/47032/0017726.pdf

11 All our futures: Planning for a Scotland with an Ageing Population: 3 The Evidence Base , 1.0 and 4.0, 2007, The Scottish Government, www.scotland.gov.uk/publications/2007/03/14163202/1

12 Information Services Division, NHS National Services Scotland 2009 http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/6060.html

13 Dance For Life research study , Strathclyde University (www.strath.ac.uk/press/newsreleases/2010archive/headline_314698_en.html) undertaken with Royal Scottish Country Dance Society

14 Taking Part Survey 2008 , Scottish Arts Council, www.scottisharts.org.uk

15 Scottish Economic Report 2003, Chapter 4 Health and Economic Benefits of Increased Physical Activity in Scotland , Gary Gillespie and Daniel Melly, www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2003/02/16363/18103

16 Assuming thirteen projects deliver dance to 20,000 people each year for three years at a cost of £60,000 per year, per project.

17 http://www.diabetes.org.uk/How_we_help/Roadshow/

18 Scottish Government, Commonwealth Games Legacy Plan 2009, www.scotland.gov.uk/publications/2009/08/21141849/2

19 Dance in Scotland , Scottish Arts Council, 2007, www.scottisharts.org.uk

20 The core Scottish Arts Council budget for dance (excluding Lottery and additional cross-artform projects) was £3,694,677 in 2002/03. In 2010/11 the total budget for dance allocated by Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government (which now funds for Scottish Ballet directly) is £7,372,230. Source: Anita Clark, Creative Scotland

21 Data supplied by Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Government

22 The Source, The Audience Business, www.tab.org.uk

23 The Economic Impact of the Cultural Sector in Scotland , Stewart Dunlop, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde and Susan Galloway, Christine Hamilton and Adrienne Scullion, CCPR, University of Glasgow (2004) Scotecon, www.christinehamiltonconsulting.com

27 Dance in Scotland Appendices

References:

24 Let’s Get Scotland More Active, A Strategy for Physical Activity , Scottish Executive, 2003, p 22: www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/culture/lmsa-00.asp, reviewed in 2009 by NHS Health Scotland, www.healthscotland.com/scotlands-health/evaluation/policy-review/physical-activity-review.aspx

25 The YDance ‘Dance in Schools Initiative’ (DISI), Final Evaluation Report, www.education.ed.ac.uk/cahru/publications/reports_downloads/DISI_final_Report.pdf

26 Analysis of figures supplied by Scottish Qualification Authority, www.sqa.org.uk

27 See 25 above

28 Analysis of figures supplied by Scottish Qualification Authority, www.sqa.org.uk

29 Taking Part Survery 2006 , p62, Scottish Arts Council. Compared to Drama and Music, Dance was the activity most likely to have been undertaken outside of the home and school by 5 – 15 year olds (23%).

30 Audit of Specialist and Advanced Dance Training Provision to Under 16s in Scotland , Scottish Arts Council, July 2003

31 Data supplied by Royal Academy of Dance – Scotland, www.rad.org.uk

32 www.ltscotland.org.uk/myexperiencesandoutcomes/expressivearts/dance/index.asp

33 Data supplied by Dance Base Outreach Manager, and quoted in Delivering Dance in the Curriculum for Excellence , Blanche Policy Solutions 2007. www.scottishtheatres.com/reportsresearch.php

34 A Literature Review of the Evidence Base for culture, the arts and sport policy , Janet Ruiz, The Scottish Executive 2004, www.scotland.gov.uk/publications/2004/08/19784/41518

35 The Scottish Government’s Education and the Arts, Culture & Creativity: An Action Plan commits to providing a national strategic approach to professional development for artists working in education settings. This approach will be led by Creative Scotland. www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/curriculum/ACE/expactionplan

36 The Art of Learning, using the arts to deliver curriculum for excellence , Scottish Arts Council, April 2009, foreword

37 Analysis of figures supplied by Scottish Qualification Authority, www.sqa.org.uk

38 Sports Leaders UK, www.sportsleaders.org

39 Report on the Costs and Funding of Scotland’s Nine Centres of Excellence by IPF – February 2005. www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/education/schools/excellence/costsandfunding

40 Music and Dance Scheme : Department for Children, Schools and Families Report for Academic Year 2008/09 , www.dcsf.gov.uk/mds/downloads//report-dcsf-0809.pdf

41 Youth Music Initiative: Scottish Arts Council Report on the P6 Target Data year five (2007/08) , May 2010

42 Youth Dance England 2010, year 1 – 2 Evaluation , Alun Bond, www.yde.org.uk

43 Education and the Arts, Culture & Creativity: An Action Plan , The Scottish Government, September 2010, www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/curriculum/ACE/expactionplan

28 Dance in Scotland Photo Credits

Page company photographer

Front cover Y Dance Andy Ross All or Nothing Dance Theatre Julie Howden Errol White Dance Roy Campbell-Moore

2 Freshmess Julie Howden

3 Scottish Dance Theatre Kenny Bean

4 Dance Ihayami James Crawford

5 Scottish Dance Theatre Kenny Bean

6 Dance Base Maria Falconer

8 Dance Base Maria Falconer Dance Base Maria Falconer traveller/Artlink Pascal Saez Dance Base Sandra George

10 Studio on the Green Gordon Lockie

12 Lindsay John Brian Hartley

14 Claire Cunningham Mark Morreau Tony Mills Allan Irvine Barrowland Ballet Brian Hartley Scottish Ballet Graham Wylie

16 Dance Base Maria Falconer

18 West Lothian Council, Arts Services Kenny Bean Scottish Ballet Andy Ross

20 Scottish Dance Theatre Andy Ross

22 Dance For All Mr Thomson Photography Y Dance Andy Ross Dance For All Mr Thomson Photography Edinburgh’s Telford College Chris Kidd

24 Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, Skye Branch Jon Pear

26 macrobert Isabel Cordoba-Aguila

27 Dance for All Mr Thomson Photography

28 Janis Claxton Dance Roy Campbell-Moore

29 Scottish Ballet Andy Ross

31 X Factor Dance Company Paul Watt

Back cover David Hughes Dance Company David Hughes

29 Report produced for the FST by Lucy Mason

30